COMMENTSAccording to the inside cover, the events in this issue takes place 5 months before Revenge of the Sith.

Obi-Wan instructs Anakin to meet him in the Karthakk system, while later it is referred to as Karthakk Sector.

The Jedi Starfighters flown by Anakin and Obi-Wan in this issue reflect the color schemes that are seen in Episode III, with Anakin's being yellow and Obi-Wan's being blue.

In Durge's rant, he mentions that the following could not kill him: The Sith, The Mandalorians, and the Bloodboilers of Kragis.

SYNOPSISOn Naboo, Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker are enjoying a little time together during the tumultuous Clone Wars. Anakin wishes that he did not have to go back and fight, but he knows that Palpatine will bring peace to the galaxy and then he and Padmé can be together finally. They enjoy this quiet moment, when suddenly a Jedi starfighter lands and out pops Obi-Wan Kenobi.

He apologizes for interrupting their breakfast, but he needs Anakin to help him stop the assassination of a Corellian merchant. Anakin believes that Obi-Wan is still chasing Ventress, still chasing a ghost, and he will not waste his time. But Padmé pleads that Obi-Wan needs his assistance and that he is the only one who can help. Anakin agrees and Obi-Wan leaves, saying he will give the meeting coordinates to Anakin shortly.

Back on Coruscant, Bail Organa is informing the Chancellor and Jedi Masters Yoda and Mace Windu that he plans to visit several key worlds in the outer rim that are under siege. Palpatine thinks him mad for wanting to visit a war zone, but instructs the Jedi to send Kenobi and Skywalker to escort him. Mace disagrees, as those two are engaged elsewhere, and offers his own services, to which Palpatine offers him good luck.

Near Maramere in the Karthakk Sector, Anakin and Obi-Wan sit patiently in their starfighters waiting for the arrival of the Corellian ship. Anakin is frustrated by being called away from Naboo and not being able to get his own assignments from the Jedi Council. Obi-Wan tells him to give it time.

The merchant ship suddenly reverts out of hyperspace and their scanners fail to pick up any life signs. Then they notice droids walking across the hull. Anakin uses his sharpshooting skills to blast the droids without damaging the ship. Obi-Wan suggests they land and investigate.

Inside the ship they discover that the crew is all dead. Anakin tells Obi-Wan to let go of the belief that this was Ventress, when he discovers the dead merchant they were trying to protect. Anakin rolls her over, noticing something in her hand. Obi-Wan shouts for him to wait, and uses the Force to knock him out of the way as a thermal detonator rolls out of the dead woman's hand and explodes knocking Obi-Wan down.

Out of the smoke of the explosion comes Durge, a bounty hunter working for Dooku. He proceeds to beat Obi-Wan Kenobi until Anakin steps in, and uses the Force to pick up hundreds of pieces of shrapnel and fling them at the near-indestructible warrior. Obi-Wan curses himself for walking into this trap.

Durge opens fire with his wrist blaster, moving closer to Anakin. The Jedi manages to slice Durge's hand off before being knocked down while Obi-Wan sneaks up behind Durge and zaps him with two loose power cables. Down but not out, Durge pushes a hidden detonator and a large portion of the aft of the ship explodes. They then realize that the ship is lined with explosives, so Obi-Wan sets off to find Durge's ship and retrieve the ships logs while Anakin distracts the bounty hunter.

Anakin stands against the hulking warrior with his lightsaber hoping that he can hold him back until Obi-Wan accomplishes his mission.